October 17, 2014

8 am departure with tour guide. Information about the area as we traveled to Boothbay Harbor, the boating capital of Maine. 10 am scenic cruise of Boothbay Harbor with a very informative boat captain making his last cruise of this year. Passed through the Bay bridge with swings around to let boats through. On the 1/2 hour during the "season" and on demand the rest of the year. Passed many islands, large and small, with beautiful vacation homes and a few year-round homes.Enjoyed some free time for shopping after the cruise. I purchased a Boothbay Harbor t-shirt on sale for $5 and a pair of ankle white socks for $1. Lunch was at McSeagull's Restaurant near the dock where Connie and most of the group experienced a Lobster dinner. I enjoyed a delicious chicken patty. We were all given "Lobster Hats" to wear (I offered mine to our bus driver Randy). It drew a lot of stares to see 40+ patrons entering the restarant wearing these red Lobster "ears" on their heads.

We left Boothbay Harbor at 2:30 for Bath where we toured the Maritime Museum. The Museum is on the bank of the Kennebec River on the site of a former shipbuilding yard. We passed a huge shipbuilding yard currently contracted to build several huge ships for the Navy.4:30 departure for Freeport, Maine. 5:00 arrival in Freeport where the main center city is developed for shopping including numerous shops for LL Bean which has its flagship store there. I got a bargain on a pair of $64 pants for $6.50. Wish they had had more my size. Connie bought a new nightgown.

We ate supper at a McDonald's which did not look like a McDonald's. In order to have a restaurant in Freeport, they had to house it in a building in keeping with the look and feel of the community. Food was the same old McDonald's.7 pm Left Freeport to return to our hotel.